STAND. COM. REP. NO.  12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 693

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 693 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROGRAMS FOR HIGH RISK YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help reduce youth violence and delinquency in the State by appropriating funds to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the operational costs of an organization providing therapeutic prevention and mental health programs for high risk youth.

Hawaii Children's Action Network, Democratic Party of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Office of Youth Services, Adult Friends for Youth, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and several individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Redirecting the appropriation of funds to specify the operational costs of an organization providing prevention, intervention, and group and individual counseling for high risk youth;

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2075, to facilitate further discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

Your Committee notes that the Office of Youth Services approximates that it will cost $100,000 for each year of Fiscal Biennium 2017-2019 to provide prevention, counseling, and other services for high risk youth as envisioned in the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 693, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 693, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair